notebooks that i use, to throw in my bag, for sketching, note taking and travel. i’ve bought mine at canoe in portland, but the website for postalco is full of beautiful things also, even wallets and leather bags. their little book ’signs’ was my first purchase of their product line and it inspired my work in ways that i would not have expected.
I just had the pleasure of working with the most professional and kind HVAC company. On time, responsive to my phone call, friendly to my dogs, complimentary towards my home and even took his shoes off at the door. Everything expressed with the most genuine professionalism as mentioned.
Owner operated, small group of employees and an otherwise basic appointment to fix my furnace was amazing. I look forward to recommending them to everyone for all of their heating and cooling needs, check out more of what they offer on their website.
Thomas Schwab 503 708 9889
thomas@ecoheat.com
ccb 165150
abc home | glass drop table lamp
moooi | marcel wanders | shelving magazine storage
sigal sasoon | dandelion rug | wool+silk
trove | indi wallpaper
uedashikimono | 2 versions of japanese grass floor coverings
plinioilgiovane | shelving storage | modern bed
donald kaufman’s palette
+ blue greens | turquoise by pratt and lambert
Another reason why we love Portland so much on these blistery yet sunny winter days – it is such a beautiful place to live.
The second in a series of interviews…possibly it is because I am curious about their lives, but my clients and friends become known in a way that I never would have expected, just by posing some rather simple questions to them.
Portland bicyclist, deep thinker, and possessor of the ability to find and express the irreverent twist of humor in everything that he sees.
- Favorite window in your new home and why?
I think the upstairs french doors, if I can count those as windows. I
can only see trees and sky out of them, so it feels like I’m in a tree
house. They let in so much light that it always feels like a sunny
spring day up there.
- What item could you not live without?
Probably a laptop. Which is strange, because I did live without one
for so long. We all did. But I don’t know how we did it.
- What is the greenest most environmentally conscious thing that you do?
I try to ride a bike almost everywhere I go.
- Favorite bike of the moment?
It’s one I built myself. I’m not much of a builder of things, so I’m
just proud that the lugs have stayed together. It was painted to look
like wood, so I like to call it the “station wagon”.
- What is boring, and what is not?
Personal finance is boring. Roller derby is boring. Other peoples
stories about flights and layovers are boring. People treat travel
conversations like misery contests, and no one ever wins.
Listening to a new favorite song for the first time is not boring.
Thinking about traveling is not boring.
- Favorite scent, song, thing to touch, and item to look at? ( one
word answers, no explanation needed )
Scent: Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco
Song: Today? Bring It On Home to Me by Sam Cooke
Touch: My cat’s belly.
Look at: A steaming french press.
- Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I’d like to think that I’ll still be in Portland, but working for
myself somehow. I spend my days in a bleak sea of cubicles, and I can
feel it wearing me down. I need a change.
- Latest obsession or inspiring thing?
Historic photography. Old pictures make everything look better.
Sometimes it’s fun to be reminded that non-golfers once effortlessly
wore hats and knickers. At the historical society downtown they have a
photo archive where you can can look up anything in Portland and
they’ll give you a file folder of old photos. I used to spend my lunch
hours there.
- What is your favorite color?
Brown.
- What about design interests you?
I don’t like projects that are in progress because they make me feel
anxious. I like completion. I like when things feel like they’re in
the right place, and that nothing needs to be changed. And I think
that good design creates that feeling of contentment. Fonts or
architecture or furniture or websites can make you feel that way,
where you just want to exhale and say “I wouldn’t change anything.”
Bad design is like a work in progress, something that can obviously be
improved upon.
- One project you would complete on your home if you had the
resources to complete it?
I’d turn the garage into a livable space. And I’d make sure that it
had a ladder that went to something up high. I’ve always wanted to
live somewhere with a ladder. It would be my private space, away from
drunks and acrophobics and animals lacking opposable thumbs and anyone
else that couldn’t climb a ladder.
-What is always in your fridge?
The first of a series of interviews with interesting people in my world, who have stories to tell about their lives, how design influences them and how their homes contain them, even sometimes while they are not there.
Rachel Demy – Tour manager, lover of knitting, pretty+smart girl, and great companion for watching movies.
- favorite room of your home?
THE KITCHEN. IT IS A MAGNET FOR ALL THE HAPPIEST AND SADDEST MOMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS.
- what does the light look like there?
CRISP AND CLEAN. THE EAST-FACING WINDOW MAKES YOU FEEL REBORN EVERY MORNING.
- favorite room outside of your home?
THE DECK ON THE SIDE OF OUR HOME. THE BAMBOO LENDS A TANGIBLE FEELING OF PEACE.
- what is always in your fridge?
ORGANIC HALF AND HALF. SOMETIMES IT’S THE ONLY THING…
- greenest (sustainable thing ) that you do?
I SUPPOSE RECYCLING. SINCE I LIVE MOST OF MY LIFE ON THE ROAD, AND TOURING IS NOT A VERY GREEN INDUSTRY, IT’S DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN DEVOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES. AS SMALL AS IT SOUNDS, BRINGING MY OWN WATER BOTTLE ON TOUR SPARES THE LOCAL LANDFILL OF HUNDREDS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES. AND IT SAVES THE VAN FROM NEEDING TO BE CONSTANTLY CLEANED OUT.
- late afternoon routine?
EARL GREY TEA. THE MORE BERGAMOT, THE BETTER.
- what is the most interesting thing about being on the road – and the most dreadful thing.
THE MOST INTERESTING THING IS THE SKEWED SENSE OF TIME AND SPACE ON THE ROAD – THE SHOW THE DAY BEFORE FEELS LIKE YEARS AGO; THE PEOPLE YOU MEET TODAY BECOME BEST FRIENDS INSTANTLY; AND THERE IS THIS FEELING OF “BEING IN THE TRENCHES” WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE, A SORT OF SPONTANEOUS FAMILY. ALL OF THIS AND THE ABILITY TO SEE NEW PLACES ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT TOURING. THEY’RE ALSO THE WORST. YOU LOSE TRACK OF DAYS, BIRTHDAYS, FRIENDS, AND YOU FEEL STRANGELY BEHOLDEN TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU DON’T ACTUALLY KNOW VERY WELL AT ALL. THE LACK OF PRIVACY HAS YOU CONSTANTLY AROUND PEOPLE, BUT NOT PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU AND LOVE YOU THE WAY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO. IT’S A STRANGE LONELINESS. I ALSO THINK THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO JUSTIFY BAD BEHAVIOR ON THE ROAD – DRINKING EVERY NIGHT, CHEATING ON PARTNERS, ETC. TOURING IS A SMALL UNIVERSE DETACHED FROM STANDARD EXPECTATIONS, ETHICS, AND MORALS. DONE RIGHT, THIS CAN BE AN EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE. BUT IT’S RARELY DONE RIGHT.
- latest inspiring person in your life
IT’S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PICK JUST ONE SO I’M GOING TO SAY ALL OF THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE. MY GIRLFRIENDS, MOTHER, AND SISTER ARE A CONSTANT TESTAMENT TO THE LOVE AND STRENGTH OF THE FEMININE SPIRIT. I FEEL SO INSPIRED BY MY THEIR RESILIENCY AND THEIR DESIRE TO BETTER THEMSELVES. IT KEEPS ME WANTING THE SAME FOR MYSELF – IT’S NOT EASY BEING IN A LAZY RUT AROUND THESE LADIES.
- what item do you always have with you?
MY BOYFRIEND AND I SHARE A STUFFED LION, APTLY NAMED, LYON. HE TRAVELS WITH US EVERYWHERE AND IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION.
- where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
STILL WORKING FOR MYSELF AND ON MYSELF – I DON’T THINK I’D LIKE TO BE A TOUR MANAGER 5 YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNTOLD PHYSICAL REPERCUSSIONS. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN WORKING WITH MUSICIANS ON MY OWN TERMS, NO ONE ELSE’S. OH, AND PROBABLY MARRIED OR SOMETHING.
- latest obsession that you think about all of the time….
POSITIVE OBSESSION: KNITTING AND CREATING PATTERNS.
NEGATIVE OBSESSION: MY DEBT.
